PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Ahmad Massoud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Massoud kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kulobi. Azhari is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Massoud
vs
Azhari

172 cm
30
165 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

171 cm
30
156 lbs
15 - 14 - 1

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu. 15%
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ahmad Massoud!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Massoud rushes Azhari and presses him up against the ropes.
Azhari stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Azhari misses with a punch on the inside.
Massoud blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Massoud digs a right hand underneath Azhari's ribcage. Azhari let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Massoud doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azhari looking to stall.
Azhari blocks an uppercut.
Azhari lands a left hand.
Massoud lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Massoud misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Massoud.
Massoud throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Azharis head.
Azhari prevents a body shot from Massoud.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Massoud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari is trying to push Massoud away but Massoud has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Massoud lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azhari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Massoud lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Massoud.
Massoud tries a body shot but Azhari blocks it.
Azhari blocks a body shot from Massoud.
Massoud misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Massoud lands a nice shot to the body.
Massoud scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Massoud.
Azhari wants to stall.
Azhari tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari misses with a body punch.
Massoud lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Massoud swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Massoud fails to land.
Massoud can't find room to land a body shot as Azhari controls the action.
Azhari tries to land knees in the clinch but Massoud avoids the damage to the body.
Azhari misses with a punch to the body.
Massoud misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azhari.
Massoud scores with a shot to the side of Azhari's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Massoud lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Massoud misses with a body punch.
Azhari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Massoud blocking some punches.
Massoud scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Massoud.
Azhari is trying to force a seperation but Massoud has the dominant position.
Massoud scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Massoud lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Massoud dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Azhari connects with a leg kick. Massoud looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Massoud jabs Azhari right on the nose. Azhari blinks but takes it well.
Azhari throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Massoud stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice jab there from Massoud.
A big left from Massoud misses.
Massoud chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azhari can pounce on him.
Ahmad Massoud seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Massoud just misses with a punch to the body.
Massoud throws a predictable looking body shot
and Azhari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Massoud tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Azhari is able to avoid easily.
Azhari tries to land a leg kick but Massoud saw it coming and moves away.
Massoud is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azhari can do to turn this around?
Massoud throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Azhari on the side of the head.
Massoud fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massoud misses with a right hand
and Azhari counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Massoud has Azhari up against the ropes in a clinch.
Azhari misses with some punches.
Massoud swings wildly with an uppercut but Azhari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azhari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Massoud goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Massoud tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Massoud doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Massoud lands with a short shot to the head.
Azhari has a couple of punches blocked by Massoud.
Massoud working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Azhari's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massoud tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Massoud lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Azhari.
Azhari is trying to force a seperation but Massoud has the dominant position.
Azhari has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Massoud seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Azhari can turn it around.
Azhari blocks a body shot from Massoud.
Massoud lands a shoulder strike.
Azhari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Massoud is working Azhari over against the ropes.
Azhari tries to break free but Massoud pushes him back against the ropes.
Massoud lands a left hand that snaps the head of Azhari backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Massoud tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
A short left from Massoud.
Azhari wants to get back to striking at distance but Massoud won't allow it.
Massoud lands a body shot.
Massoud lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Azhari backwards.
Massoud misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Massoud dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Massoud misses with a left hand
and Azhari counters with a leg kick.
Massoud wants to land a leg kick but Azhari is out of range.
Azhari takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
Massoud misses the shot to the body.
Massoud backing away here, and Azhari unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Massoud misses with a looping left.
Azhari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Massoud's calf.
Azhari throws a hook to the side of Massoud's head but Massoud sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Massoud looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Massoud tries to clinch
and Azhari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Massoud uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azhari.
Azhari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Massoud throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Massoud fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Azhari, pushing him back against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Massoud.
Massoud lands a hook that snaps the head of Azhari backwards.
Massoud working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Azhari wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Massoud has him pressed against the ropes.
Azhari prevents a body shot from Massoud.
Ahmad Massoud has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Massoud misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Massoud tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
Massoud blocks an uppercut.

Azhari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari circles away from the clinch attempt
and Azhari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Massoud cracks Azhari with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Massoud has Azhari up against the ropes in a clinch.
Massoud lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Azhari is looking to break free of the clinch but Massoud has double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Massoud.
Azhari putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Massoud in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Massoud misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Massoud.
Massoud has Azhari pressed against the ropes, preventing Azhari from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Massoud working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Azhari wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Azhari misses with the head strike.
Azhari lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Azhari misses with the head strike.
Massoud misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Massoud clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Massoud tries to close the distance and clinch but Azhari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Azhari scores with a jab to the head.
Massoud digs a good body shot into Azhari's ribs.
Massoud pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It seemed like Azhari was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Decent striking displayed by Massoud there.
Massoud smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Massoud closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Azhari.
Azhari with a knee to the head.
Azhari blocks a body shot from Massoud.
Azhari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Azhari has had enough of the clinch but Massoud keeps him there for the moment.
Azhari misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massoud takes an elbow to the forehead.

Massoud is rocked!

It looks like Ahmad Massoud has been cut.
Azhari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Massoud backwards.
Oh Massoud is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Azhari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Massoud backwards.
Azhari misses with a knee to the head.
Azhari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Massoud tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
Azhari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Massoud is keeping busy.
Massoud doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azhari lands an elbow inside that Massoud shrugs off.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Azhari obliges.
Azhari blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azhari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Massoud lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Azhari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Massoud tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Azhari counters with a big right hook, that lands right on the temple! Massoud goes down! Azhari rushes to a neutral corner to get the count going quickly. This one's going to be close! 3,4,5,6,7... Massoud is up to one knee.... 8,9....10! He didn't make it! This fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Ebrahim Azhari!